Sign lease & send checks before board approval?

yes that is correct, a signed lease is most likely necessary for the board package. In terms of checks, I recommend that you specify to broker to hold rent check (and security deposit) until approval is given. Actually this is how REBNY's guidelines mandate these transactions be handled. In the event your broker is NOT the listing broker they hold on to the checks until approval is given at which point they release checks to owner and any commission checks. If the owner needs proof of payment I suggest you include photocopies of those checks.

uesaptowner is spot on.

The same thing happened to me, I'm doing the application via the owner not the broker. The owner requested me to write her deposit check along with the application package. I'm refusing to do this because I certainly cannot give so much trust on a stranger. She said that "you check needs to be clear before move in". Oh well I think we can do the whole check thing right after I get the approval and ensured to sub-lease the apt. You just never know right?. Anyway is a copy of the check would be helpful? can people bring it to a bank and confirm whether it is "cleared" or not? thanks